San Benedetto, Catholic church in central Bologna, Italy
San Benedetto is a Catholic church in central Bologna with a light-filled interior arranged with five chapels on each side. The semi-circular windows above let light flood in and highlight the decorated ceiling that stretches across the space.
The church was founded in 1202 and took its current shape after a rebuilding that happened in 1606 under Giovanni Battista Ballerini. About a century later, the entire building was rotated to face a newly created street.
The church holds works by important Italian painters whose names appear on small plaques throughout the interior. You can spot these pieces as you walk around and get a sense of Bologna's artistic heritage.
The building is located along Via dell'Indipendenza and sits easily within walking distance of the city center. You can plan your visit during daytime hours as the church is open to visitors throughout the day.
When the city was redesigned, the entire facade of the building was rotated 180 degrees instead of being demolished. This unusual solution shows how the city preserved valuable structures while adapting to new urban plans.
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